Older and/or more knowledgable Bronco fans!!

[Master___Pain]

I know it's been discussed on here before about the lack of Broncos in the HOF. Rick Reily was on the Dan Patrick show recently saying what a joke it was that a team that's been to 6 superbowls has 1 HOFer.

If you could vote one Bronco into the HOF, who would it be?

Mine would be Gradishar. I also think Louis Wright is a HOFer.

[ludo21]

not old enough, but for sure its Gradisher, all the film ive seen he was an animal!

[Disco Man]

Floyd Little

[Natedogg]

Floyd Little as well.

[Dutch]

Have to go with Floyd Little first, then Gradishar. I would like to see Atwater, Zimmerman, Davis, Sharpe, Smith, and Elam get in. No problem with Sharpe or Smith I think.

Dutch

[Atwater His Ass]

I think it's a joke as well. We've had many talented players come through that just don't get their due.

Randy Gradishar.

[Northman]

Atwater, Gradishar easy ones.

[Bronco_Beerslug]

Gradishar, Little, Taylor and Wright to start with.

[azbroncfan]

You need to ask O 4 Life he is the best and oldest bronco fan around. I like Zim but he was always one of my favorite broncos.

[Tredici]

Floyd Little
Randy Gradishar

But, of course, Tiki Barber will get there before Floyd. Because by playing for the New York Giants standards he's all world.

[Smiling Assassin27]

Bucky Dilts...he gets in on name alone.

[Garcia Bronco]

Four Four

[Disco Man]

You only get ONE........look at top post

[Mile High Mojoe]

I know it's been discussed on here before about the lack of Broncos in the HOF. Rick Reily was on the Dan Patrick show recently saying what a joke it was that a team that's been to 6 superbowls has 1 HOFer.

If you could vote one Bronco into the HOF, who would it be?

Mine would be Gradishar. I also think Louis Wright is a HOFer.

Gradishar hands down. I saw him play, he was the rock of the Orange Crush and rarely missed a tackle when he was in range.

[bronco militia]

Meck, and Atwater

[Bronco_Beerslug]

Lionel Taylor had the best hands in the AFL era and was the first receiver in history to catch 100 passes. If he would have ever had anything CLOSE to a good team to play on he would set many, many records.


Seasons among the league's top 10

<table border="0"> <tbody><tr><td>Receptions:</td><td>1960 (http://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/leadersafl1960.htm)-1*, 1961 (http://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/leadersafl1961.htm)-1*, 1962 (http://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/leadersafl1962.htm)-1*, 1963 (http://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/leadersafl1963.htm)-1*, 1964 (http://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/leadersafl1964.htm)-2t*, 1965 (http://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/leadersafl1965.htm)-1*</td></tr> <tr><td>Receiving yards:</td><td>1960 (http://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/leadersafl1960.htm)-3*, 1961 (http://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/leadersafl1961.htm)-2*, 1962 (http://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/leadersafl1962.htm)-3*, 1963 (http://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/leadersafl1963.htm)-3*, 1964 (http://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/leadersafl1964.htm)-8*, 1965 (http://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/leadersafl1965.htm)-3*</td></tr> <tr><td>Receiving TDs:</td><td>1960 (http://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/leadersafl1960.htm)-2t*, 1963 (http://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/leadersafl1963.htm)-3t*, 1964 (http://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/leadersafl1964.htm)-9t*, 1965 (http://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/leadersafl1965.htm)-7t*</td></tr> <tr><td>Yards from scrimmage:</td><td>1960 (http://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/leadersafl1960.htm)-5*, 1961 (http://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/leadersafl1961.htm)-5*, 1962 (http://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/leadersafl1962.htm)-10*, 1963 (http://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/leadersafl1963.htm)-8*, 1965 (http://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/leadersafl1965.htm)-7*</td></tr> <tr><td>Rush/Receive TDs:</td><td>1960 (http://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/leadersafl1960.htm)-2t*, 1963 (http://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/leadersafl1963.htm)-4t*</td></tr> </tbody></table>* - AFL

[jonny1]

Floyd Little
Tombstone Jackson
Louie Wright
Randy Gradishar

at least

[Northman]

You need to ask O 4 Life he is the best and oldest bronco fan around.


In that case Jake Plummer.

[Master___Pain]

We need someone like TJ to do a piece on Countdown that shines a light on all these great players. It's really a shame that there's only 1 player in the HOF.

[fdf]

Floyd Little

Yup.

[azbroncfan]

In that case Jake Plummer.

The rest of us don't understand because we are part of the ADD gen-X crowd. All we do is whine and piss and moan sip wine and eat cheese.

[Stuck In Texas]

Gradishar - hands down. The only player to average 200 tackles per year for his career. :notworthy

[dsmoot]

Floyd Little
Tombstone Jackson
Louie Wright
Randy Gradishar

at least

You hit this right on. These are the names you start with. I liked Atwater, but Louis Wright is the best DB (other than Champ) to play for Denver.

[bjeffrey]

Gradishar. Time after time after time, when the visitors had 3rd n short inside our 10, they'd send a RB flying at a hole off tackle--and Gradishar would come flying in. It was like 2 bighorn sheep colliding (except Randy NEVER lost).

[broncobum6162]

Gradishar for certain. All of the others mentioned are good votes. But what about Terrel Davis. Has everyone forgot about him? If Gale Sayers can get in than TD should be also.

[Barry Ramey]

As much as I like what Little did for this franchise when it was down, he was the guy that helped put this organization on the map with his great play, I'd have to go with Gradishar. This guy was having 200 tackle seasons even when they only had 14 game seasons. INCREDIBLE!

[Bronx33]

Floyd started getting this team on the map and started the bronco faithful which transformed into the what the fan base is today, on his acomplishments on the field and the racial adversity he dealt with and his legacy today, little should get in. Guys like randy and louis, alzado ect ect just carried that newly lit torch which we all enjoy today. Some folks don't understand WE were the st louis cardinals of football (for a loooooong time) before floyd gave us the spark.

[Billy Clyde Puckett]

Sorry - I can't name just one. there are at least a half dozen guys that have been/are getting screwed

[Master___Pain]

Sorry - I can't name just one. there are at least a half dozen guys that have been/are getting screwed

Well, feel free to name those cats.

[Billy Clyde Puckett]

Gradishar
Zimmerman
Little
Wright
Atwater
Smith
Tombstone
TD, Sharpe, Nalen and Elam should be there in the future

[WoodMan]

Lionel Taylor
Rich Jackson
Floyd Little
Randy Gradishar (My 1st choice)
Louis Wright
Steve Atwater
Gary Zimmerman
:thumbsup:

[BroncoMan4ever]

Floyd Little or Terrell

[12th man]

Floyd Little

That's who I would vote.

[Little44]

<--------

:notworthy

[B-Love]

Floyd is a top 10 all time Bronco, probably a top 5 Bronco of all time. But Randy Gradishar is probably the 2nd greatest Bronco of all time.

While Floyd Little was regarded as a top 5 NFL Running Back during his prominent years, there is something that people here need to realize.

Randy Gradishar was generally regarded as the 2nd Best Linebacker in all of football for a full decade. Actually, 30-40% of the so called experts regarded Randy as the greatest Linebacker in football at the time, with the rest usually regarding him as the 2nd best behind Lambert.

Floyd, while great, cannot quite live up to Randy's standards.

Randy is the greatest Defensive Player in the history of the franchise, not even a very close 2nd. And he's the 2nd greatest performer in the history of the franchise.

[anthonypacino]

Gradishar
Little
Tombstone Jackson
Zimmerman
Davis
Sharpe will be in for sure, Meck moved around too much he will get in with the old timer's vote someday.

[BroncoBuff]

Floyd Little
Randy Gradishar

Agree - plus Zimmerman.

Of the eligible Broncos, only Little and Zimmerman are clearly deserving. Steve Atwater, Gradishar and TD are close.

Louie Wright is my all-time favorite athlete, but realistically, he's not worthy. The REALITY is: There are only a grand total of SIXTEEN DBs in the entire Hall of Fame (http://www.profootballhof.com/hof/positions.html), and that's CBs and safeties COMBINED.

Just to make myself feel better, I hate Deron Cherry, and he doesn't deserve to be in the Hall either (that felt better).

[BroncoBuff]

I can't understand why Steve Atwater is so routinely overlooked. I post my "OrangeMane HOF Thread" a couple times a year, and he gets very little props compared to the others.

HOWEVER, he went to 8 Pro Bowls in 9 years as a Bronco, was defensive captain of two Super Bowl winners, and had an Int and sack of Brett Favre in XXXII. He should at least be a finalist. If he were a Chicago Bear or a New York Giant, he'd have probably been in two years ago on his first ballot.

[anthonypacino]

[QUOTE=BroncoBuff;1354790] The REALITY is: There are only a grand total of SIXTEEN DBs in the entire Hall of Fame (http://www.profootballhof.com/hof/positions.html), and that's CBs and safeties COMBINED.

QUOTE]

That is why Atwater won't get in until maybe the old timer voting, he just doesn't have the numbers, Ronnie Lott seems to have set the modern bar for safties despite the fact that he got to play CB for a few years, Rod Woodson might get but once again he played CB and returned kicks allowing him some better numbers.

[broncocalijohn]

Gradishar. When I became a fan in 1977, he was what i rmember on the Orange Crush. Little was before my time. I believe Sharpe and TD will get in in time. Zimmerman was a part time bronco but is one of two all decade players for 80s and 90s not to be in the HOF. Everyone else is that is on the list just once for the 80s. Atwater should get consideration as well as Meck.

[maven]

I know it's been discussed on here before about the lack of Broncos in the HOF. Rick Reily was on the Dan Patrick show recently saying what a joke it was that a team that's been to 6 superbowls has 1 HOFer.


Doesn't really matter anymore. The time has come and past. Yes, there should be more Broncos. But, it's not going to happen with the older players. Maybe one player will sneak in down the road, but in general nothing is going to change.

[freak6]

HOWEVER, he went to 8 Pro Bowls in 9 years as a Bronco, was defensive captain of two Super Bowl winners, and had an Int and sack of Brett Favre in XXXII.


Braxton had the INT your talking about! But he should be a HOF for sure.

[Atlas]

I have always said Gradishar was the best defensive player ever for the Broncos he was the undisputed leader of the Orange Crush defense and is the best goaline LB ever to play. That being said he only played 10 years. He quit on his own at the top of his game. If he would have played 3 more years and retired in 1986 like Jackson and Wright than he would have cemented his place in the HOF. The reason he isn't in is his own doing.

Zim will be in eventually, Little should already be in.

[Atlas]

I can't understand why Steve Atwater is so routinely overlooked. I post my "OrangeMane HOF Thread" a couple times a year, and he gets very little props compared to the others.
.


To me Atwater is one of the most overrated Broncos of all time. He routinely made probowl teams on reputation. He was very good but I don't think he was as good as Dennis Smith or Billy Thompson.

[Billy Clyde Puckett]

To me Atwater is one of the most overrated Broncos of all time. He routinely made probowl teams on reputation. He was very good but I don't think he was as good as Dennis Smith or Billy Thompson.

Yikes!

Atwater might have been the most versatile player in Bronco history. In his last years he WAS the defense, He move around more than Meck. While on the roster as a safety he played all seven positions behind the los depending on the situation.

[AlienBronco]

Gradishar...Watching him play while in highschool and College gave me the football bug. I became both a Bronco and Football fan eversince.

[55CrushEm]

I know it's been discussed on here before about the lack of Broncos in the HOF. Rick Reily was on the Dan Patrick show recently saying what a joke it was that a team that's been to 6 superbowls has 1 HOFer.


Elway even said this in his induction speech.....basically his wording was "there is no way a team could get to 6 superbowls (more than any AFC team), without having other players that are also worthy of this honor."

He's absolutely right.....

[broncosteven]

Floyd Little PERIOD!

He was the Franchise before Elway. With out him the Broncos no longer exist. Buy his new book to find out his story: http://www.amazon.com/Floyd-Littles-Tales-Broncos-Sideline/dp/1596700505

Randy belongs in the HOF but not before Floyd.

[Crowpointer]

This guy has always intrigued me. He was before my time but hearing Steve Sabol from NFL Films say he is the best player not in the hall of fame I would love to hear any stories anybody has who saw him play. His nickname is right up there with Hacksaw, Mean Joe, Too tall, ect...

[TailgateNut]

This guy has always intrigued me. He was before my time but hearing Steve Sabol from NFL Films say he is the best player not in the hall of fame I would love to hear any stories anybody has who saw him play. His nickname is right up there with Hacksaw, Mean Joe, Too tall, ect...

Good nomination. I'd definately throw Little and Billy Thompson into the mix.

[KCbroncos]

All of these should be:
1. Gradishar - better than Lambert, but Steelers were it during his time.
Others - Little(played for bad teams), Louie Wright and Dennis Smith (both more accomplished than Atwater).
Who I wish would get in: OTIS!!!(injury) and Mr. Upchurch.

[Old Dude]

Bottom line is that HOF recognition is an individual award for a team sport.

I'm sure there are plenty of guys in there who would not have been there if they'd played for weaker teams. And there are plenty of players who never racked up the stats or awards that they could have earned if they'd had the advantage of stronger supporting casts.

[WoodMan]

This guy has always intrigued me. He was before my time but hearing Steve Sabol from NFL Films say he is the best player not in the hall of fame I would love to hear any stories anybody has who saw him play. His nickname is right up there with Hacksaw, Mean Joe, Too tall, ect...Rich Jackson was originally a Raider, but Greasy Al wanted him to play at linebacker and not Defensive end. I heard this on the radio, straight from the horses mouth. Rich Jackson still lives around that area and used to have a radio show that had a round table discussion with other ex-NFL players. Another nick name of his was "Ths Sheriff" because that was his off season job. He played before the salaries for NFL players were enough that you could take the off season and not need a second job. I think he was a Sheriff for a long time after leaving football. He was a tremendous defensive end for the Broncos, prototypical of todays ends. Tall, lanky with long arms and very quick. He led Denver's defense during his years here. I think he finally retired because of injury problems (knee if my memory serves me corretly, which it doesn't do often these days). I agree that he could be in HOF, but there were so many other great defensive ends about the same time. The best being Deacon Jones. I'd go with Gradishar myself because of his tackle totals (200 per year) and the fact that he lead the Orange Crush as the best player on that defense and there were many excellent defensive players on the Crush. Thompson, Alzado, T. Jackson, Swenson, Wright and I think Paul Smith. Gradishar was the best.

[broncosteven]

Rich Jackson was originally a Raider, but Greasy Al wanted him to play at linebacker and not Defensive end. I heard this on the radio, straight from the horses mouth. Rich Jackson still lives around that area and used to have a radio show that had a round table discussion with other ex-NFL players. Another nick name of his was "Ths Sheriff" because that was his off season job. He played before the salaries for NFL players were enough that you could take the off season and not need a second job. I think he was a Sheriff for a long time after leaving football. He was a tremendous defensive end for the Broncos, prototypical of todays ends. Tall, lanky with long arms and very quick. He led Denver's defense during his years here. I think he finally retired because of injury problems (knee if my memory serves me corretly, which it doesn't do often these days). I agree that he could be in HOF, but there were so many other great defensive ends about the same time. The best being Deacon Jones. I'd go with Gradishar myself because of his tackle totals (200 per year) and the fact that he lead the Orange Crush as the best player on that defense and there were many excellent defensive players on the Crush. Thompson, Alzado, T. Jackson, Swenson, Wright and I think Paul Smith. Gradishar was the best.

I love Tombstone but think Floyd & Randy deserve it more. Floyd was the 7th leading rusher when he retired. They did not keep sack stats in Rich's time.

[SteveTensi13]

Randy Gradishar, a no brainer and a travesty he is not in already!

[ol number 7]

Gradishar. When I became a fan in 1977, he was what i rmember on the Orange Crush. Little was before my time. I believe Sharpe and TD will get in in time. Zimmerman was a part time bronco but is one of two all decade players for 80s and 90s not to be in the HOF. Everyone else is that is on the list just once for the 80s. Atwater should get consideration as well as Meck.

Randy is the real deal.